Newsletter- 25th Week of Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners
‘You cannot serve two masters’ – Today’s readings at Mass illustrate both the centrality of justice and faithfulness as well as the danger of materialism. They show that God’s love, which is for all, particularly notices the victims of injustice (First Reading from the prophet Amos), and the poor, who are lifted by God (Responsorial Psalm). The Second Reading (a letter attributed to St Paul and sent to Timothy, the first bishop of the Church at Ephesus) concerns prayer and emphasises God’s desire that all are to be saved. It encourages the young Timothy to continue in the way of truth through the one mediator, Jesus Christ. The parable of the dishonest manager (who uses his master’s resources for his own gain) allows Jesus to teach about faithfulness (Gospel). But his main point is about the impossibility of serving two masters.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, let us pray this week that we might be people of justice, lifting those we know who are bowed down; that we might be people of faithfulness, by our prayers of intercession for world leaders; and that we might be people of hope, by our trust in God’s love for all.
This Sunday we keep Evangelii Gaudium Sunday – A few years ago, the Bishops of England and Wales gave the day of prayer for Home Mission Sunday a new title, Evangelii Gaudium Sunday. This was to reflect the changing focus of evangelisation presented by our late Holy Father Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation of the same name. This year, the Church has been celebrating a significant anniversary. It’s 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea. This great gathering of Bishops from around the Church began the work to formulate the Creed we proclaim Sunday by Sunday. It is the content of this Creed that is our mission, so that we may know and love God in this life, in order to be happy with him forever in the next. The Creed begins with a profound proclamation, “I believe…” This is the theme for Evangelii Gaudium Sunday 2025.
The second collection this weekend is to support the work carried out by the Bishops’ Conference Mission Directorate. Through this directorate, we support the Church in a wide field of service and mission here in England and Wales. Please hold this important work in your prayers and give as generously as you can to the Second Collection which will be taken this weekend at all our Sunday Masses.
With my prayers for you and for your families during the coming week ahead,
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
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